Former Arsenal and Sweden star Anders Limpar does not like the stance Lucas Bergvall has taken on his Tottenham Hotspur future.
According to reports, Tottenham have informed Bergvall that he is a key part of their project and that he is not leaving, but the midfielder’s mind remains unchanged.
Sources indicate that the 20-year-old Spurs star remains keen on a fresh challenge away from N17 next season after struggling for game time under Roberto De Zerbi last campaign.
His desire to leave reportedly stems from a keenness to play regularly in his favourite number eight role, which he perhaps thinks is low at the North London club after they spent big to revamp their midfield this summer.
Lucas Bergvall told to be Tottenham’s saviour rather than jumping ship
Anders Limpar has admitted he does not like the fact that the former Djurgardens man is pushing to leave at the first sign of trouble.
He called on his compatriot to earn his place in Roberto De Zerbi’s starting line-up and take Spurs back to the top end of the Premier League table.
When asked about the speculation over Bergvall’s future, Limpar told Rekatochklart: “First of all, I don’t like when a player who’s struggling with his team, and a new manager comes in, the player straight away complains and wants to leave. I don’t like that because you have to work yourself back into the team and not just say in the press that I want to leave. I don’t like that.
“Lucas Bergvall is a very, very good player. You can see he has a big heart as well. He doesn’t let the team down. He was one of the guys who worked [against France] all the way until he got subbed. I don’t like that he wants to leave. It’s better for the Swedes to stay at Tottenham and make them great again. That’s a bigger value for me.”
Bergvall asked to take personal responsibility for his Spurs predicament
Several top European clubs are eyeing a move for Bergvall on hearing that he is unsettled at Tottenham, and Limpar is sure that there will be no shortage of interest in the player if he is put on the shop window.
However, he urged the Sweden international to accept responsibility for finding himself out of favour at Spurs, and work to set that right.
The 60-year-old added: “He can probably choose from three or four clubs now, if he stays in the Premier League. We’ll have to wait and see but yet again, he can play for a good side. Lot of talk about him going to Liverpool.
“It’s too easy to say ‘I want to leave’. When a player’s on the bench, it’s always the manager’s fault, the crowd’s fault. You have to look at yourself and dig in. I don’t like players who just suddenly find everything wrong with the club and want to leave, rather than putting their fist to their hand, working hard and talking to the manager to understand where they can improve. I would have liked to see that here.
“He’s at a time and place in his career where he should stay humble towards his club, but if it goes that way that he’s swapping clubs, then all the best to Lucas. He’s in my heart. He’s like Benjamin Nygren who plays with heart. He’s not a player who hides himself when the result is not going his way. He wants to do something on the pitch. I like him a lot.”